LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks Inc. has made the
decision to pick up the comedy series "WEEDS," a single-camera comedy from
Lions Gate Television about a single mother who makes ends meet by selling
marijuana in suburban Los Angeles, it was announced today by Robert
Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041217/FLF011 )
"I made it a mandate when I arrived here that Showtime would aggressively
get into the comedy business. This series, along with Kirstie Alley's
upcoming 'Fat Actress,' will do that in a way that is quintessentially
premium," commented Robert Greenblatt.
"We're delighted to be in business with Showtime on 'WEEDS,'" said Kevin
Beggs, President of Programming and Production for Lions Gate Television. "We
believe that this comedy has the kind of wit and edge that audiences are
clamoring for."
Produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Tilted Productions,
"WEEDS" has received a 10-episode commitment and stars multi-award-winning
actress Mary Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins and Kevin Nealon. The series
will be produced in Los Angeles and debut on SHOWTIME in mid-2005.
"WEEDS" exposes the dirty little secrets that lie behind the pristine
lawns and shiny closed doors of homes in the fictional town of Agrestic,
California. Parker stars as a suburban mom who resorts to selling weed to
support her family after her husband unexpectedly dies. Perkins stars as the
uptight head of the PTA and Nealon plays a city councilman.
"WEEDS" is written and executive produced by Jenji Kohan ("Friends") and
the pilot was directed by Brian Dannelly, who recently directed Parker in the
critically acclaimed high school satire "Saved!" Dannelly will serve as a
producer on the series. Danielle Gelber is the creative executive for
Showtime.
Lions Gate Television is the television production and distribution arm of
Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF; TSX). Lions Gate Entertainment is the
premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television
programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand
content. Its prestigious and prolific library of approximately 8000 titles is
one of the largest in the entertainment industry. The Lions Gate brand name
is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around
the world.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom
Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM)
and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM),
SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME
NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also
offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE
MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television
network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is a venture between NBC Universal, Robert
Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound
using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment
events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through
SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network
SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone
Vision.
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